bauwens



April 8', 1924': 1,489,810

S. F. BAUWENS WIREVJOINING TOOL Filed May 13, 1921 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fiw ATTORNEY April 8, 1924..

s. F. BAUWENS WIRE JOINING TOOL Filed May 13, 1921 April 8, 1924; 1,489,810

S. F. BAUWENS WIRE JOINING TOOL Filed May- 13, 1921 3 Sheets-5heet 3 Patented Apr. d, 1924;.

insane SERAPHINE F. BAUVIENS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE, T0 VJIREBGUNDS PATENTS i -CO1:1PANY, A CORPORATIGIQ' OF MAINE.

WIREJOENIHG T0011.

Application filed. Kay 18,

To all whom it'mog concern:

Be it known that I, SERAPI-IINE F. BAU- wnns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire-Joining Tools, of which the following is a specification.

ihis invention relates to tools, devices or machines for joining wires, wire bindings or wire ties on or about boxes, crates, packages, bales, bundles and the like and is intended to provide an improved tool, device or machine to perform wire joining operations by intertwisting the wires, and which is adapted automatically to sever the wire upon completion of the twist. Another object is to provide a power driven tool, de vice or machine of the class described which may be operated from a motor or the like.

One type of tool embodying the inven tion is shown for illustration'in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the wire gripping jaws open to receive the wires to be intertwisted;

F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation seen from the right in Fig. 1 and showing a motor and flexible shaft for operating the tool;

Fig. 4.- is a side elevation of the tool showing the wire gripping jaws closed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line ii-A of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 6 is a sectional View line B-B of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a sectional View taken on the line CC of Fig. i;

ig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line DD of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an end view of an ordinary wire bound box showing projecting wire ends to be joined;

Figs. 10 and 11 show the manor of using the illustrative tool to join the wire ends shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 shows the character of twist produced by the illustrative tool; and

Fig. 13 shows the completed twist hammered down against the side of the box.

One type oi box upon which the illustrative tool is particularly well adapted to perform operations is shown in Fig. 9 consisting of four side sections of side material taken on the 1921. Serial Nmdfidd'l.

retain the sections in box form, the free ends to ofthe binding wire are intertwisted and the sharp edges removed. '7

The illustrative tool is designed to perform this closing operation and is adapted to receive and grip the wire ends w and by rotation of the gripping members to cause the wires to be intertwisted and then severed in such a manner as to. leave no sharp edges or burrs which might cut or injure the hands or clothing of thoseisubsequently handling the box. The illustrative tool comprises generally a twisting head adapted to receive and grip the wires to be intertwistedand means to cause rotation oi the twisting head- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the twisting head is preferably ofthe type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 391,- 404: filed June 2 1, 1920, consistingof arms 1 and 2 pivotally joined by a bolt 3 to pro-- vide relatively movable jaws 4 and 5 at the outer extremities of arms 1 and 2 respectively, which jaws carry wire gripping members Gand 7 respectively, adapted when the jaws are closed to grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them and then cause them to be severed. Arm 1 is slidably mounted in a body member 8 and arm 2 is connected to body member 8 byIa toggle link 9 so that movement of arm 1 in body member 8 will. cause relative movement'cf jaws 4t and 5 and wire gripping members 6 and? Arms 1 and 2 are normally maintained in an extended position with jaws i and 5 open through the action of a compression spring 10 carried by an arm 11 secured to arm 1 and reciprocable in a cylindrical opening 12 in body member 8. Thus it will be seen that when the nose of the twisting head is pressed against a relatively fixed object, such for instance as a box, arm 1 will be forced into body member 8 causing jaws Ki and 5 to close and when the twisting head is withdrawn from the box springlO will cause jaws 4i and 5 to posit on.

assume their normal open The construction, arrangement and action of the twister head need not be more fully described as a complete description thereof is given in my copending application above referred to. It will sufiice to say that when the nose of the tool is pressed against a box about which the wire is to be joined, the gripping members will close upon and grip the wires and when the gripping members are rotated about the wires as an axis the wires will be intertwisted uniformly and evenly between the point where gripped and the nose of the tool and will be tensioned over the box corner by the twisting opera tion and when the twist is completed the wires will be severed or wrung off leaving a tight twist with no sharp edges or burrs. As pointed out in the application above referred to, the length of the twist is determined by the location of the gripping members rela tive to the nose of the tool and the tightness of the twist, the degree of tension of the wire over the box corner and the time of the severing action may depend upon the shape of the gripping members or the degree of pres sure which they exert upon the wire during the twisting operation or both, thus enabling the operator'to control the operation of the tool by the pressure exerted thereon during the twisting operation.

In the tool of the application above referred to, the twisting head is rotated manually by turning a brace. In the present in vention mechanism is provided automatically to cause rotation of the twisting head at selected times to perform a wire joining operation. Such mechanism is particularly advantageous in that it speeds operation of the tool and relieves the operator of the tiring labor of turning the brace to rotate the twisting head.

The preferred mechanism for automatically rotating the twisting head as illus trated in Figs. to 8 is carried by a casing 13 secured to a handle 14 by screws 15 and comprises a worm shaft 16 suitably journaled in casing 18, worm gear 17 revolubly mounted on a twister shaft 18 carried by a member 19 bolted to the twister head by screws 20, and controllable clutch mechanism to clutch worm gear 17 to twister shaft 18 to cause rotation of the twister head.

The preferred mechanism for clutching worm gear 17 to twister shaft 18 consists of a pin 21 carried by worm gear 17 and adapted to engage a clutch member slidable on a squared portion 23 of twister shaft 18, when clutch member 22 is moved into the path of travel of pin 21. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, clutch member 22 carries a pin 24: which extends through an opening in member 19 into the path of travel of the rear extremity of arm 1. so that when the nose of the tool is pressed against a box and arm 1 is forced into body member 8, the rear extremity of arm 1 engages pin 24 and moves clutch pin 21 whereupon shaft 18 revolves with worm gear 17 and the twister head rotates. A spring 25 disengages clutch member 22 from clutch pin 21 when the pressure of the tool against the box is released, that is when the arms 1 and 2 are permitted to assume their normal extended position. Thus it will be noted that worm gear 17 is automatically clutched to shaft 18 each time the tool is pressed against the box and is released when the tool is withdrawn therefrom.

To facilitate the twisting of several bindings on or about a box, mechanism is provided automatically to stop rotation of the twister head at the same point in its cycle of operation after each twist is completed thus correctly positioning the gripping members to receive the wires for the next operation. Said mechanism as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8 comprises a pin carried by casing 13 which is adapted to engage a notch or opening 81 formed in clutch member 22 when clutch member 22 is released from engagement with pin 21 carried by. Worm gear 17.

To facilitate rotation of the twister head, roller bearings 27 may be provided between the member 19 and casing 13.

The twisting head and its shaft 18 are secured to casing 1 3 by a screw 26 threaded into the end of twister shaft 18 and the head of which rests against the rear plate of casing 13.

As shown in Fig. 3, worm shaft 16 is preferably operated by a suitable motor 28 through a flexible shaft 29 so as to facilitate the handling of the tool by the operator but it will be understood that the power for operating the tool may be applied in any suitable manner without departing from tiie invention, for instance by attaching a motor to the tool itself and balancing the weight of the motor by a pulley and counterweight.

The operation of the illustrative tool is as follows: The motor is started causing flexible shaft 29 to rotate worm shaft 18 which in turn causes worm 17 to revolve about twister shaft 18. The nose of the tool is then pressed against; a relatively fixed object, for instance a box, forcing arm 1 into body inenr her 8 and closing jaws 4i and As arm 1 is forced into body member 8, its rear extremity engages pin 2 secured to clutch member 22 and moves clutch member into the path of travel of clutch pin 21 carried by worm gear 17 whereupon clutch pin 21 engages clutch member causing twister shaft 18 to rotate the twisting head. The twisting head will continue to rotate so lon as the tool is pressed against the box and when it is withdrawn spring 10 will disengage arm 1 from pin 24 and spring 25 will force clutch member 22 out of engagement with clutch pin 21 thus automatically disconnecting worm gear 17 from twister shaft '18 and pin 30 will snap into notch 31 of clutch member 22 and stop rotation of the twister head with the jaws 4 and 5 in proper position to receive the wires for the next operation.

The manner of using the tool is illustrated in Figures 9 to 13. Fig. 9 represents a wire bound box having a binding wire thereabout, the ends to of which are to be joined to close the box and retain the parts in box form. As shown in Fig. 10, the wire ends ware inserted in the opening between the jaws of the tool as the tool is moved toward the box and pressure bf the nose of the tool against the box side, as shown in Fig. 11, closes the jaws and gripping members upon the wire ends and causes rotation of the twister head to intertwist the wire ends.

in Fig. 11 until the twister head is rotated a suil'icient number of times to cause the twist and sever the tip thereof whereupon the tool is withdrawn leaving the twist shown in Fig. 12 which may be hammered down against the side of the box as shown in Fig. 13.

The improved tool illustrated and described may be operated with great speed as a complete operation is performed by simply pressing the nose of the tool against the box and then withdrawing it. in other words, aforward and backward movement of the tool completes the operation. This is particularly advantageous in joining wires about wire bound boxes which are usually provided with a number of wire bindings such as the one illustrated in Fig. 9. With the ends of such wires positioned as shown in Fig. 9 a few forward and backward movements of the tool will twist the ends of every wire about the box.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof shown for illustration herein but may be variously embodied and the particular construction shown may be variously modified, as will appear to those skilled in the art. Furthermore it is not indispensable that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be used to advantage in various combinations and sub-combinations Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

"l. A tool for joining wires comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to intertwist them; and means automatically to cause rotation of the gripping means comprising a constantly revolving actuator and controllable means for connecting said actuator and said gripping means at selected times.

2. A tool for joining wires comprising in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to cause them tobe intertwisted and The tool is held pressed against the side of the box as shown then severed; and means automatically to cause rotation of the gripping means, comprising a constantly revolving actuator and the wires to be joined and by rotationto cause them to be intertwisted and then severed; and means to cause rotation of the twister head at selected times comprising a constantly driven power shaft and a controllable clutch for connecting said shaft and said head.

5. A power driven tool for joining wires by intertwisting comprising, in combination, means to receive and grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; a constantly driven flexible shaft for rotating said gripping means which is normally disconnected therefrom; and controllable means for connecting said shaft and said ripping means at selected times.

6.1 power driven tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising,

in combination, means adapted to receive and grip thewires a distance from the box; means to position the gripping means relative to the box whereby when the gripping means are rotated the wires will be inter twisted between the box and the point of gripping and the wires will be severed at the gripping point upon completion of'the twist; mechanism for rotating said gripping means which is normally disconnected therefrom; and controllable means for connecting said mechanism andgripping means at selected times.

7. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; and means controlled by pressure of the tool against the box to cause rotation of said gripping means. I I

8. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to cause them to be intertwisted and thensevered; and means controlled by thepressureof the tool against the box to cause rotation of said. gripping means.

9. A toolfor joining wires on or about means. tor joining wires on or about like compris' in combinarip the n res; means to on or about in. combinameans to ltl the gripping means i box (hiring the ooera Q i t whereby rotation ot the gripping means will cause the wires to intertwlsteil between the box {Liltl the point oi' gripping and then severeil at the gripping point in such a manner as to have no snar p edges or burrs; and means automat: :ally to rotate the gripping means.

13. A tool for joining wires on or boxes or the like comprising in tion. means to grip the wires; means to hold the gripping means a lis ance from the box during the operation of the t -ool whereby rotation 01 the gripping means will cause the wires to be intertwiste-(l between the box anal the point of gripping and the wire to be tensionetl about the box; and means automatically to rotate the gripping means.

is. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like con'iprising, in combina tion, means to grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; means to position the gripping means relative to the box; and controllable means automatically to rotate the gripping means at selectetl times, con'iprising a constantly revolving tlexible shaft and a clutch to connect saitl shaft and said gi'pping means.

15. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising. in combination, means to grip the wires to be joinecl and by rotation to intertwist them; means to position the gripping means relative to the box; and means controlled by the pressure of the tool against the box automatically to rotate the gripping meansv 16. A tool for joinin wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, relatively movable gripping members acaptecl to receive and close upon the Wires to be joined; means to position the gripping members relative the package during the operation or the tool whereby rotation of the gripping ienibers will cause the wires :tzlliYQl niiovable gripping members ailaotecl to receive and close upon the wires to be means to position the gripping :ative to the package (hiring the u of the tool whereby rotation of the l between the box and the gripping point anti be severed at the gripping and means automaticall to rotate oping members. tool for joining wires on or about s or the like comprising, in combinameans to grip the wires a distance from c box; mcai'is to engage the i ires at the box who I Jy rotation of the gripping means will cause the wires to intertwist evenly between the box and. the point of gripping with each convolution of the twist uniformly tei'isionetl; nd means automatically to rotate the )ping means.

19. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the lite comprising, in combination. 311821118 to grip the wires a distance from the box: means to engage the wires at the cox and to position the gripping means relative to the box whereby rotation of the gripping means will cause the wires to intertrist evenly between the box and the point of gripping with each convolution of 20. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, relative-y movable gripping means adapted to receive ancl close upon the wires a distance from the box; means to engage the wires at the box whereby rotation of 7' ping means will cause the wires to vist evenly between the box antl the point of gripping with each convolution 01: the twist uuii orn'ily tensionecl; and means automatically to rotate the gripping means.

21. ii. tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising in combination, relatively movable gripping means adapted to receive and close upon the wires a distance from the box; means to engage the wires at the box ancl position the gripping means relative to the box whereby rotation of the gripping means will cause the wires to intertwist evenly between the box and the point of gripping with each convolution of the twist uniformly tensioned and will cause boxes or rename the wires to be severed upon completion of the twist; and means automatically to rotate the gripping means.

22. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, relatively movable gripping members adapted to receive and close upon the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; and means automatically to rotate said i bers, comprising a constantly revolving actuator and controllable means for connecting said actuator and said gripping mea s at selected'times.

23. A tool for joining wires on or about the like comprising, in combination, relatively movable gripping members adapted to close upon the wi..es to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; means to position the gripping members a fixed distance from the be during the twisting operation whereby continued rotation of the gripping members will sever the tip oi: the completed twist; and means automatically to rotate said members.

24. A tool for joining wires or about boxes or the ike comprising, -1 combination, means to g1 p the wires and by rotation to intertwist them; means to position said members a distance from the boat whereby the length of twist is determined; and means automatically to rotate said gripping membore.

25. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to intertwist them; means to position the gripping means a distance from the box where by formation of the twist will tension the wire about the box; and means automatically to rotate said gripping means.

26. A tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, a plurality of wire-engaging moans spaced: apart a distance equal to the length of the twist desired, one such means being adapted when rotated to cause the wires to inter' twist evenly and uniformly between the points of engagement by said plurality of engaging means; and means automatically to rotate said rotatable means.

27. A tool for joining wires comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to cause them to be intertwisted and then severed; means automatically to cause rotation of the gripping means comprising a constantly revolving actuator and controllable means for connecting said actuator and said grippingl means; and means to stop rotation of the gripping means upon completion of the twist.

28. A tool for joining wires comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to cause them to be intertwisted and then severed; means to cause rotation of the gripping means comprising a constantly revolving actuator and controllable in s ior connecting said actuator and said pping means; and means to control the point of stopping of said gripping means.

A tool for joining wires comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires and by rotation to cause them to be intertwisted and then severed; means to cause rotation of the gripping means comprising a constantly revolving actuator and controllable means for connecting said actuator and said ping means and means to stop rotation oi the gripping means at a fixed pointin its cycle operation,

30. A power driven tool for joining wires by intertwisting them comprising, in combination, a twisting head adapted to receive the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; means to cause rotation of the twister head at selected times; and means automatically to stop rotation of the twister head after each twisting operation at the same point in its cycle of operation.

81. A. power driven tool for joining wires by inter-twisting them comprising, in combination, a twisting head adapted to receive the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; means to cause rotation of the twister head at selected times; and means to control the position of said twister head at the termination of each twisting operation. I i

82. A. tool for joining wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, means to grip the wires to be joined and by rotation to intertwist them; means controlled by the pressure of the tool against the box to cause rotation of said gripping means; and means to stop rotation of said gripping means at a selected point in its cycle of rotation when the pressure of the tool against the box is released,

83. A tool for joining wires on or abou boxes or the like comprising, in combination, meansto grip the, wires to be joined and by rotation to cause them to be intertwisted and then severed; means controlled by the pressure of the tool against the box to cause rotation of said gripping means; and means to stop rotation of said gripping means when the pressure of the tool against the bOXlS released.

3a. A power driven tool for joining Wires on or about boxes or the like comprising, in combination, a twisting head adapted to receive and grip the wires to be joined and mechanism automatically to rotate the twisting head comprising a constantly revolving shaft and means to clutch thetwisting head thereto.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

SERAPHINE F. BAUWENS. 

